[annalex]

Riiight, 20 paragraphs or so to explain away 5 simple verses, that speak of burning off imperfections.

This is the methodology that makes Protestantism so unattractive.

[Springfield Reformer]

Actually, the "method" of using context to develop an honest understanding of the text is rather essential in any attempt to understand God's word.  To me, it seems the foundational difference in the Catholic versus the Protestant/Evangelical hermeneutic is the starting point:

The Roman Catholic begins, a priori, with the assumption that the Roman Magisterium has provided the dogmatic framework, and it only remains to find passages in Scripture that, however weakly, may be conscripted into support of that dogma.

Whereas the Protestant/Evangelical starts with the belief that Scripture is the very Voice of God to the body of Christ on earth, and so it is necessary to approach such sacred ground with supreme reverence, a humble waiting to see what God will say, even if it does not conform to our a priori expectations, even if we come away convicted of sin or error, because that is how we feed "on every word of God," as Christ instructed us, and that is how we grow.

So if you're taking votes on preferences, I much prefer the latter to the former.  In the case of the specific passage concerning the burning off of unprofitable works (1 Corinthians 3), many of Mr. Rogers' multiple "paragraphs" are just an expansion of the passage cited by NYer, which provides a very helpful context.  That context makes it impossible to read "purgatory" into the text, so I can understand why the typical RC apologist would be apoplectic about using it.

What is always odd to me, though, is the manner in which Scriptures are made to seem to be in competition with each other.  This is bizarre, because all of Scripture is Gold talking. He doesn't contradict Himself, so any two passages which seem to be in opposition to each other simply haven't been understood correctly.  All of Scripture is a coordinated whole.  As Spurgeon once said (in a different context) why set forth as enemies the very best of friends? Our justification, our being transformed from children of darkness to children of light, that is all the work of Christ, completed on our behalf when He took all our punishment for sin onto Himself and became our Lamb of Sacrifice.  

But as those who would build on that wonderful foundation, we are obligated to do the very best we can do to build a worthy structure, something of real value, because everything less than that will indeed be burned away, and we will lose reward if we fail in that regard.  Yet saved as those, not who were purged by fire, but who escaped the fire, but with all their possessions destroyed.  It is an entirely different image than what is represented in the concept of purgatory, and so it is understandable why the full context should be problematic for the would-be RC expositor.

Peace,

SR

[Mr Rogers]

“Riiight, 20 paragraphs or so to explain away 5 simple verses, that speak of burning off imperfections.”

No. That is NOT what the verses say. It is an illustration. Paul and others are building up the church - the CHURCH, NOT THEMSELVES. The passage in 1 Corinthians 3 is obviously and blatantly talking about building up the congregation, and calling the church the field where they labor and plant and harvest, or a building they are erecting.

And if someone builds with shoddy materials, “the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward.”

That isn’t “explaining away”. It is a direct quote.

Paul didn’t leave a need for interpretation, because he GIVES one:

“the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward.”

If anyone wants to know what 1 Cor 3 is referring to, all they need to do is READ IT!

---

“After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God’s servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. For we are partners working together for God, and you are God’s field.

You are also God’s building. Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid. Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.”

[Iscool]

Riiight, 20 paragraphs or so to explain away 5 simple verses, that speak of burning off imperfections.

Burned off of what??? That's not what the verses are about...It has nothing to do with imperfections...It has to do with bad and fruitless works...And the memory of those is burned into non existence...